Railroad-puzzle.



No. 856,749. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. H. G. WEBSTER.

RAILROAD PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.15, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAILROAD-PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1 1, 1907.

Application filed December 15,1906. Serial No. 347,987.

To a whom Lam/(Ly concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY G. WEBsTEn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Puzzles, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to railroad puzzles, and hasfor its objects the provision of a new puzzle and improved structural characteristics of puzzles of this class whereby their cost of construction is materially lessened.

The invention will be set forth fully by reference to the accompanying drawing and in the claims.

In the drawingFigure l is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the difierent figures.

The puzzle device is of a small size so as to constitute a convenient toy, and is preferably disposed within the body a of a suitable box, which, for the sake of cheapness, may be made of card-board, and which box may be provided with a cover I), so that the puzzle may be readily inclosed, thereby better adapting it for shipment and storage. A diaphragm c is disposed within the box body A and is maintained a suitable distance from the bottom thereof by any convenient distance preserving means, such as the cleats cl d. The said diaphra m may be made of any suitable material, fiber-board being preferred. The railroad track is simulated by a slot e cut in the diaphragm and desirably substantially S-shaped, so that a considerable length of track may be afforded upon the limited area of the diaphragm. There are two sets of vehicle similes, each set constituting a train, the vehicles of one train being of a character to distinguish them from the vehicles of the other train, to aid in assembling the vehicles in their respective trains. This distinction may be secured by coloring the vehicles of one train differently from the vehicles of the other.

The vehicles are desirably in the form of oblon I blocks of the same dimensions, provided wit grooves in their long parallel sides, into which grooves the portions margining the slot e extend. The vehicles are thus prevented from being displaced perpendicularly with respect to the diaphragm a, while at the same time they may be pushed along the line of travel. Short slots f and g extend at acute an les from the middle section of the slot (2 and desirably in parallel directions, according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, one short slot projecting from one side of the track and the other from the other side of said track.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, there is but one communicating branch slot it. Each of the slots f and 9 can properly hold desirably but one vehicle, while the slot it may hold two vehicles. The branch slots f and 9 taken together and the branch slot h, afford siding facilities for a number of vehicles less than the total number in either train. In order that the vehicles may be very cheaply con structed and at the same time permit them to travel the course, the curves of the S-shaped slot are made large so that the vehicles will not bind in the slot when rounding the curves. One train includes a vehicle i simulating a motor vehicle, such as a steam locomotive. It also includes elements 70, Z and min suitable number, which in the embodiment of the invention shown, simulate freight cars, the elements it and Z representing box cars, while the elements we represent cabooses or tail cars. The other train includes respectively similar vehicles 1', k, Z and m. If the diaphragm member 0 is not of sufficient rigidity, the cleats (i may be disposed at the curves of the track, these cleats being cut away as indicated in Fig. 2, to permit of the passage of the bottoms of the vehicles theretlu'ough.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 1, the puzzle is to have the trains inter-changed in position, having the isolated vehicles 0 and p disposed within the slots f and 9 after such inter-change has been accomplished.

One solution of the puzzle is as follows: Starting with the blocks in the position shown in Fig. 1, move block 2' past branch g; move block 71 into branch g; move blocks 11 and p out of branch 9 and back to the upper portion of slot 6. Block i is then moved past branch f, into branch f, out of branch f with block 0 and back to the lower portion of slot 6. Block i is then moved past branch 9 and into branch 9. Then move blocks m Z, id,

. enter branch g.

0 and i to upper part of slot e. Move block'i, to lower part of slot 6. Move blocks 1), i 0, k Z m past branch g. Move blocks p and i into branch g. Move block if out of branch g. Move blocks '5 and 0 to upper part of slot 6. Move blocks 0 and i into branch Move block i out of branch Move block i to lower part of slot 6. Move block al into branch 9'. Move blocks 1) and i to lower part of slot e. Move blocks m Z, W, i and p to upper part of slot e. Move blocks m Z, 76 i and p and 76 to lower part of slot 6. Move blocks i, p and Zc until blocks Zr and p Move blocks 1) and t to lower part of slot. Move blocks m Z 15 t and p to upper part of slot. Move block i into branch g. Move blocks i and k to lower part of slot. Move blocks m Z F, 11 p and Z to lower part of slot. Move blocks *0, p and Z until blocks p and Z enter branch g. Move blocks 2) and 'Z to lower part of slot. Move blocks m Z, 761, "Z and p to upper part of slot. Move blocks 11 and Zc to branch 9. Move blocks i, Z: and Z out of branch g. Move blocks m Z H, i 19 and m to lower part of slot. Move blocks i p and m to branch g. Move blocks p and 4 out of branch. g. Move blocks m Z F, i and p to upper partof slot. Move blocks t, is and Z. to branch g. Move blocks i, 7c, Z and m to lower part of slot. Move blocks m Z Z4 i and p to lower part of slot. Move blocks 2' and p into branch g. Move block 4; to lower partof slot. Move blocks m Z 7c and i to upper part of slot.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, but, having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent 1. A puzzle device includinga box body, a diaphragm supported clear of the bottom of the box body, and having an S-shaped slot and branch slots extending from the middle portion of the aforesaid slot, two sets of blocks in which the blocks of one are of distinctive character from the blocks of the other, said blocks simulating motor vehicles,

trailers and tail cars, each set simulating the vehicles of one train, said blocks having grooves in their sides engaging the walls of said slot and'itsbranches to prevent dis placement of said blocks with respect to the diaphragm perpendicularly while said blocks are being pushed along the line of travel afforded by the slot, said branch slots together affording siding facilities for less than the number of vehicles of either train.

2. A puzzle device including a sheet pro- I vided with a slot, two sets of blocks in which the blocks of one are of distinctive character from the blocks of the other, said blocks simu lating motor vehicles, trailers and tail cars, each set simulating the vehicles of one train, said slot being branched to afford siding facilities for a plurality of vehicles of either train less than the number of vehicles contained in either train, said blocks having grooves in their sides engaging the walls of said slot to prevent displacement of said blocks with respect to the sheet perpendicularly while said blocks are being pushed along the line of travel afforded by the slot, said slot having one portion returned upon another to afford an extended path of travel as compared with the size of the sheet.

3. A puzzle device including two sets of sliding blocks, each set simulating the vehicles of a train, a support therefor having a guide along which said blocks may slide, said guide being branched between its ends to afford siding facilities for less than the num ber of vehicles in either train, the branching of the guide being positioned to permit said trains to be placed on opposite sides thereof, whereby said siding facilities may be between the trains in forming the puzzle.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of December, A. D. 1906.

HARRY G. WEBSTER. 

